Improvement in coal-hole covers



1, DUGAN.

Coal-Hum Covers.

N0 148 43G, Patented March10,1874.

Inventor.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JAMES DUGAN, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN COAL-HOLE COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,4 30, dated March 10, 1874 application filed September 20, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DUGAN, of Astoria, Queens county, State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Ooal-Hole Covers, of which the following is a specification: I

The object of my invention is to provide a coal-hole cover which can be opened and closed from below, in the coal-cellar, without the necessity of first unfastening the chain, which holds the present-used covers from below, and then going to the sidewalk and removing the cover. when the cover is opened, it acts as a danger-signal and an impediment for pedestrians. My invention consists in m akin g doors or covers which will fit in the coal-hole exactly, the rim of which is provided with grooves, in which the covers rest, thus makin g the upper sides of the cover flush with the sidewalk. These doors or covers are attached to the side of the coal-hole, or to a separate frame, by aid of hinges, in such a manner that they can be opened or shut at pleasure, like a double door. The opening of the doors or covers is accomplished by pulling a string or chain from below in the coalcellar, said string running through an eye-hook fastened into the lower side of the coal-hole, and then through another eye-hook, in which a rod is placed, to which rod the said string is attached. To the upper end of this rod are pivoted two short rods, which are hinged to the under sides of the doors near to their outer edges. By pulling the string the rod is elevated and the door or covers are raised. To the lower end of this rod is attached a connecting-rod and a ring, by means of which the doors are secured and fastened when shut or opened. Near to the outer edges of the doors, on the inner sides, is

fastened a chain, from which is suspended, in the center, aweight, which serves to automatically close the doors when the ring which is attached to the connecting-ring is removed from its hook or fastening.

In order to more fully describe my invention, I refer to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

Figure I is a plan view of a coal-hole vault and coal-hole covers embodying my invention. Fig. II is a vertical sectional view through line 00 00, Fig. 1.

A is the vault, B the sidewalk, C the chute, D the coal-hole, E E the coal-hole doors or covers, hinged at d d to a frame or the sidewalk B. fis a rod, placed in the eye-hook g, and pivoted at the upper end to the rods h h, the other ends of which are hinged to the doors E E at c i. To the lower end of the rod f is fastened a connecting rod or link, a", having a ring, S, attached thereto. V is a guidestring, fastened to the eye-hook p and the bar f. 1 is the chain fastened, at K K, to the doors, and having a weight, L, suspended therefrom at m. N is a string or chain, fastened at 0 to the rod f, and running through the eye-hooks g and W, and passing down through the chute C, where it is fastened to a hook in the cellar.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to claimt The rods f, h h, and 'r,'string N, chain J, with weight L, in combination with the covers E E, substantially as and for the purpose hcrcinbefore set forth.

JAMES DUGAN. Witnesses:

RICHARD GERNER, FRANKLIN BARRITT. 

